The Ultimate Cheesecake

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This cake is so divine on its own that we skipped the expected sweet topping, but you can also serve it with fresh or cooked fruit, or a drizzle of chocolate or caramel sauce. Use an oven thermometer to ensure that your oven is properly calibrated; even a 25-degree fluctuation can cause the cheesecake to puff up and develop surface cracks.

Filling: While crust is cooling, in large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy; gradually beat in sugar and continue to beat, scraping down side of bowl twice, until smooth and light. On low speed, beat in eggs, 1 at a time and scraping down side of bowl often, just until combined. Stir in lemon juice, vanilla and salt; stir in sour cream in 2 additions until smooth. Pour over crust, smoothing top.

Bake in 275°F (140°C) oven until surface is no longer shiny and outer 2 inches (5 cm) of cheesecake appear set yet centre is still quite jiggly, 1-3/4 to 2 hours. Turn off oven; let cool in oven for 1 hour. Remove from oven; quickly run paring knife around edge of cheesecake. Let cool completely. Refrigerate until chilled, about 6 hours.
(Make-ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.)

Tip from The Test Kitchen: Gently swirling egg white over the baked crust may seem finicky, but it prevents the filling from turning the crust soggy. The result is a perfectly crisp yet pleasantly crumbly crust.

Cream Cheese Gingerbread Thumbprint Cookies

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Gingerbread overload? There's no such thing! These soft, chewy ginger-spiced thumbprints are filled with a tangy cream cheese icing for the ultimate holiday treat. A sprinkling of chopped crystallized ginger gives the cookies an added festive touch.

Bake, 1 sheet at a time, in 350°F oven until no longer shiny, about 12 minutes. Remove from oven; using rounded back of 1 tsp measure, gently press wells to reshape. Let cool on pans for 5 minutes; transfer directly to racks to cool completely.

Spiced Cream Cheese Icing: While cookies are cooling, in bowl, beat cream cheese with butter until fluffy; beat in molasses, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Beat in icing sugar until smooth. Spoon or pipe heaping 1 tsp of the icing into well of each cookie.

Garnish: Sprinkle icing with ginger. Refrigerate until icing is set, about 30 minutes. (Make-ahead: Refrigerate in airtight container for up to 3 days.)

Herbed Cheese Pinwheels

These savoury cheese-filled pastries come together in minutes and can be personalized to suit your tastes. Try cooked bacon and Cheddar, sun-dried tomatoes and mozzarella, or sliced pitted olives and Havarti.

Phyllo Cups

Puff pastry is made by a time-consuming process of folding and rolling out dough brushed with butter. These layers expand during baking, giving it a "puff" effect that's light and flaky—the perfect base for appetizers and desserts.

Ingredients

4
sheets
frozen phyllo puff pastry

2 tablespoons
butter

Method

Thaw frozen phyllo pastry. In small microwaveable bowl, microwave butter until melted. Place 1 sheet of the phyllo on work surface; keep remaining sheets covered with damp towel (to prevent drying out). Lightly brush phyllo with some of the butter. Top with second sheet of the phyllo; lightly brush with some of the remaining butter. Repeat with remaining phyllo and butter.

Halve layers lengthwise; cut crosswise into thirds to make 6 squares. Press 1 square into bottom and up side of each well of 6-count muffin pan, pointing overhang outward. Bake in 400°F oven until golden, about 6 minutes. Let cool completely in pan. (Make-ahead: Store in airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month; reheat in 350°F oven until crisp, about 3 minutes.)